Seattle’s 15 best coffee shops, and why Starbucks made the list

Seattle is to coffee as Alaska is to snow. New York to bagels. New Jersey to bad reality TV. We’ve drawn on personal experience, Yelp data and reviews on industry sites to amass a list of the 15 best coffee shops in Seattle.

<b>Best all-around coffee shop: Caffe Fiore</b><br><br> No Seattle coffee-shop list would be complete without a mention of this ever-expanding local business. Caffe Fiore has coffee-connoisseur grade coffee and a comfy vibe. <a href="http://caffefiore.com/">Caffe Fiore website</a> less

<b>Best all-around coffee shop: Caffe Fiore</b><br><br> No Seattle coffee-shop list would be complete without a mention of this ever-expanding local business. Caffe Fiore has coffee-connoisseur grade coffee ... more

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<b>Best coffee shop for meeting new people: Neptune Coffee</b><br><br>This Greenwood cafe goes out of its way to get you out from behind your laptop. Neptune has a thriving social life, known for trivia competitions and knitting nights. <a href="http://www.neptunecoffee.com/">Neptune website</a> less

<b>Best coffee shop for meeting new people: Neptune Coffee</b><br><br>This Greenwood cafe goes out of its way to get you out from behind your laptop. Neptune has a thriving social life, known for trivia ... more

<b>Best coffee shop for people watching: Bauhaus Books and Coffee </b><br><br> This coffee shop has a front-row seat to the Capitol Hill peep (as in "people") show. If you're not interested in what's happening inside the cafe, just direct your attention outside. <a href=" </b><br><br>">Bauhaus website</a> less

<b>Best coffee shop for people watching: Bauhaus Books and Coffee </b><br><br> This coffee shop has a front-row seat to the Capitol Hill peep (as in "people") show. If you're not interested in what's happening ... more

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<b>Best coffee shop for reading: Elliott Bay Cafe</b><br><br>A move to Capitol Hill meant big changes for the Elliott Bay Book Company, including a larger, more open space for its cafe. Browse, sip, read. less

<b>Best coffee shop for reading: Elliott Bay Cafe</b><br><br>A move to Capitol Hill meant big changes for the Elliott Bay Book Company, including a larger, more open space for its cafe. Browse, sip, ... more

<b>Best coffee shop for people turned off by coffee shops: Java Bean</b><br><br>Not interested in the so-called coffee house culture? Try frequenting a place with deer antlers on the wall instead. Java Bean has locations in West Seattle and Ballard. <a href="http://www.javabeancoffee.com/homepage.html">Java Bean website</a> less

<b>Best coffee shop for people turned off by coffee shops: Java Bean</b><br><br>Not interested in the so-called coffee house culture? Try frequenting a place with deer antlers on the wall instead. Java Bean ... more

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<b>Best coffee shop that delivers: Lighthouse Roasters</b><br><br>Like many small roasters, Fremont-based Lighthouse will send bags of coffee right to your home. <a href="http://www.lighthouseroasters.com/">Lighthouse website</a> less

<b>Best coffee shop that delivers: Lighthouse Roasters</b><br><br>Like many small roasters, Fremont-based Lighthouse will send bags of coffee right to your home. <a ... more

Photo: Image via Google

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<b>Best coffee shop for music: Trabant Coffee and Chai</b><br><br>Some of the city's best musicians have played gigs at Trabant's University District cafe. <a href="http://www.trabantcoffee.com/">Trabant website</a> less

<b>Best coffee shop for music: Trabant Coffee and Chai</b><br><br>Some of the city's best musicians have played gigs at Trabant's University District cafe. <a href="http://www.trabantcoffee.com/">Trabant ... more

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<b>Best coffee shop for getting some work done: Zoka Coffee</b><br><br>Tables? Lots of them. Outlets? Enough to get by if you share. A couple dozen young professionals tweeting and blogging their day away? Yes, there's that, too. The company's Greenlake location has ample work space, and its University District cafe is usually laptop friendly. <a href="http://www.zokacoffee.com/">Zoka website</a> less

<b>Best coffee shop for getting some work done: Zoka Coffee</b><br><br>Tables? Lots of them. Outlets? Enough to get by if you share. A couple dozen young professionals tweeting and blogging their day away? ... more

Photo: Amy Rolph/seattlepi.com

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<b>Best coffee shop for coffee geeks: Victrola Coffee</b><br><br>This critically-acclaimed cafe and roaster is one of the city's finest, boasting complicated espresso and and eclectic jazz soundtrack. <a href="http://www.victrolacoffee.com/">Victrola website</a> less

<b>Best coffee shop for coffee geeks: Victrola Coffee</b><br><br>This critically-acclaimed cafe and roaster is one of the city's finest, boasting complicated espresso and and eclectic jazz soundtrack. <a ... more

<b>Best coffee shop for getting to know coffee: Seattle Coffee Works</b><br><br>This downtown roastery has an express bar and a slow bar. At the express, you get your coffee and go -- business as usual. At the slow bar, you taste, test and talk about coffee. <a href="http://www.seattlecoffeeworks.com/">Coffee Works website</a> less

<b>Best coffee shop for getting to know coffee: Seattle Coffee Works</b><br><br>This downtown roastery has an express bar and a slow bar. At the express, you get your coffee and go -- business as usual. At the ... more

<b>Best coffee shop for people who don't like coffee: Starbucks</b><br><br>Don't like coffee? No problem. Your caramel mocha frappuccino tastes more like a milkshake than coffee, and you can always try the company's new <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/01/10/starbucks-launches-milder-coffee-do-customers-prefer-blondes/">blonde roast.</a> less

<b>Best coffee shop for people who don't like coffee: Starbucks</b><br><br>Don't like coffee? No problem. Your caramel mocha frappuccino tastes more like a milkshake than coffee, and you can always try the ... more

Photo: Amy Rolph/seattlepi.com

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<b>Best-loved coffee shop: Tougo Coffee</b><br><br>The Central District cafe faced closure in 2011, but raised $10,000 -- partially from from neighbors and community members -- to keep its doors open. <a href="http://tougocoffee.com/">Tougo website</a> less

<b>Best-loved coffee shop: Tougo Coffee</b><br><br>The Central District cafe faced closure in 2011, but raised $10,000 -- partially from from neighbors and community members -- to keep its doors open. <a ... more